Barefoot Country Music Festival Resumes After Storm Delay

Issue #370

June 21, 2025

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

🎵 Barefoot Country Music Festival Resumes After Storm Delay

🦅 Cape May’s Early Migrant: The Willet Returns, and Then Departs

👶🏻 Lifeguards Share Key Tips for Preventing Lost Children on the Beach

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👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇  

 June 21

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East Lynne Theater Launches Bold New Era with New Space, Immersive Shows, and Expanded Season

Mark David Boberick and the new Clemens Theater

Cape May’s East Lynne Theater Company is embarking on a transformative chapter in its 45-year history. With former board member Mark David Boberick at the helm as new executive director, the company is undergoing an expansive redefinition of its mission and operations. Central to this evolution is the opening of a second venue, the Clemens Theater for the Arts, housed within the historic Allen AME Church.

For the foreseeable future, East Lynne will operate out of two venues: its longtime home at the Cape May Presbyterian Church and the new Clemens Theater. While the first production of the 2025 season, Dear Jack, Dear Louise, opened at the Presbyterian Church this past Thursday, subsequent productions will begin populating the new space. The Clemens Theater is currently being upgraded with modern theater technology and infrastructure, with long-term plans for dressing rooms and other essential facilities. The goal, according to Boberick, is for the venue to serve as East Lynne's first permanent home in the company’s history, for at least the next 25 years.

For years the Cape May Presbyterian Church has been a wonderful and generous host but the constraints of the venue—such as having to dismantle sets each Saturday night to accommodate Sunday church services—often limited production value. With the Clemens Theater, East Lynne can now fully realize more ambitious staging and immersive storytelling techniques, a key step forward as the company modernizes its operations.

The location of the Clemens Theater is steeped in cultural significance. Set in a revitalized district of Cape May, the area is now home to the Harriet Tubman Museum, a newly constructed fire hall, the restored Franklin Street School (now the Cape May Library), and the newly dedicated Black History Heritage Trail. This historically Black neighborhood, once thought to be limited to just a few blocks, was in fact an expansive and vibrant community. Many of the buildings along today’s Washington Street Mall were once Black-owned businesses, making this transformation both a cultural restoration and a renaissance.

The theater company’s artistic approach is also evolving. Previously known for reviving lesser-known works from the American theatrical canon, East Lynne has shifted toward more contemporary and widely recognizable productions. This change began with the well-received staging of Driving Miss Daisy in 2023 and has since led to more diverse programming and immersive theatrical experiences. Casting, too, has adapted to the demands of larger and more dynamic productions, with talent being sourced both locally and from major cities like New York, Philadelphia and London.

The constraints of the old space—such as having to dismantle sets each Saturday night to accommodate Sunday church services—often limited production value. With the Clemens Theater, East Lynne can now fully realize more ambitious staging and immersive storytelling techniques, a key step forward as the company modernizes its operations.

The 2025 season is being described as a time of “exploration,” with several firsts in store:

· "Dear Jack, Dear Louise" July 12th -19th – A heartfelt two-person play by Ken Ludwig, marking its regional premiere in South Jersey. The show has already earned an enthusiastic standing ovation at its preview performance.

· "Whispers from the Forgotten" June 22nd  – A Juneteenth documentary screening about the Union Deathless Emissary Offshore, the final resting place for many Civil War soldiers, especially those from the Cape May area. Local filmmaker Tim Milloway directed this moving piece, which will be presented in the new theater despite ongoing renovations.

· "Every Brilliant Thing" July 31st - August 30th – East Lynne’s first original British play, written by Duncan MacMillan. This one-person, immersive performance will use in-the-round staging, a technique newly possible in the open layout of the Clemens Theater.

· "No Regrets: An Evening with Edith Piaf," September 4th – September 14th  – A cabaret-style performance starring European artist Yael Rasouli, combining song, storytelling, and puppetry. Rasouli performs alongside a full-size Edith Piaf puppet, creating a unique dual-voice theatrical experience. The show will transform the space into a Parisian café.

· Sherlock Holmes Radio Show, October 23rd – 25th A community favorite, returning this fall.

· "Humbug, the Elf Who Saved Christmas" TBA – A new family-friendly holiday show, adapted from a children’s book by British author Stephen Butler. The production features a group of North Pole helper elves who make their way to Cape May. Butler, a renowned playwright and actor, spent time in the city to customize the story. The show will include participants from East Lynne’s youth theater program, offering them a rare opportunity to perform alongside professionals in an equity production.

Speaking of youth, East Lynne is doubling down on its educational initiatives. The company’s Youth Theater Camp runs from July 14–24, with a final performance on July 25. Open to children ages 11–17, the camp is led by veteran actor and director Sally Bingham, who emphasizes confidence building, teamwork, and creativity. This year’s camp will culminate in a student-devised version of Sherlock Holmes, thematically linked to the fall radio play. Taught by acclaimed professional actor Sally Bingham, the program is designed so that all children are involved in all aspects of the theater, whether they wish to perform on stage or stay behind the scenes to help backstage. Bingham stresses that this is not just about learning theater skills; it’s about learning life skills, such as public speaking, teamwork and confidence building.

Bingham, who has acted, directed and written plays for over 35 years in Chicago, Philadelphia and New York, teaches theater skills, improv, creativity, and team building for corporations and schools, such as Wildwood’s after-school Century 21 program.

Sessions take place 1-4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, July 14-18 and 21-24. A free, live, open-to-the-public performance will take place on July 25. All classes and the performance take place at the Cape May Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St., Cape May.

“The point is not to have the best production, it’s to have the best journey to get there,” said Bingham. “This is a safe and inviting place. It’s very joyful – this is not work – because it’s summer.”

Tuition is $250 and due by July 1. Kids under age 11 may join if an older sibling is registered. Class is limited to 15 students. To register or for more information, go to EastLynneTheater.org.

In terms of community involvement, Boberick’s vision is for East Lynne to become not just a professional theater in Cape May, but a theater for Cape May. With growing collaboration between arts institutions in the area—including Cape May Stage—the company sees cooperation, not competition, as key to sustaining the arts. Leadership views the development of new theaters and art spaces as proof of Cape May's cultural vitality.

Finally, while the company continues to raise funds for its capital campaign to fully renovate the Clemens Theater, its greatest ask is simple: buy a ticket. For East Lynne, the most powerful form of support is an engaged audience—one that returns, spreads the word, and helps the arts continue to thrive in a community that deeply values them.


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Barefoot Country Music Festival Resumes After Storm Delay

 

 The Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood, NJ, was evacuated Thursday evening due to severe weather threats, including lightning and high winds. Attendees were urged to seek shelter as thunderstorms approached. All 21 counties in New Jersey were under a thunderstorm watch Thursday, with Cape May and Atlantic counties placed under an even more severe storm warning. Despite the turbulent start, the Wildwood Police Department confirmed that the festival reopened at 9 p.m., allowing the evening’s events to resume as weather conditions improved. Last night’s show featured Lainey Wilson and went off without a hitch. The festival, a major beachfront event running through Sunday, typically draws tens of thousands of country music fans to the shore each year.

 

Cape May’s Early Migrant: The Willet Returns, and Then Departs

 The Willet is a large shorebird commonly found in Cape May’s saltmarshes during the summer. While many sandpipers migrate far north to breed, Eastern Willets nest locally and begin their southbound migration as early as June. Western Willets, which breed in inland wetlands, also pass through Cape May in late summer and fall. The two types have different migration patterns and habitat preferences, making them a unique birdwatching subject. Visitors can observe them and other coastal birds through guided events hosted by Bird Cape May. If you’re interested in seeing Willets up close—or exploring the rich birdlife of Cape May’s shores and wetlands—visit www.birdcapemay.org to browse guided birding events and seasonal programs. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or simply curious, there's something for everyone, all year long.

Lifeguards Share Key Tips for Preventing Lost Children on the Beach

 Lost children are a common issue on crowded beaches, especially among 4- to 5-year-olds. Lifeguards advise families to set up near lifeguard stands, teach kids how to identify and approach guards if lost, and use tall flags or markers for easy visibility. Supervision at the water’s edge is essential, and parents should alert lifeguards immediately if a child goes missing. Fast action, clear descriptions, and preparation can significantly reduce the time it takes to reunite families. The sooner we’re alerted, the faster we can begin the search. That’s why it’s essential to have these conversations with your children ahead of time. Teach them how to recognize lifeguards, what a lifeguard stand looks like, and where to go if they become separated. While no system is perfect, preparation and teamwork between parents and lifeguards make a huge difference in keeping kids safe. By staying vigilant, having a plan, and staying calm in a crisis, we can help ensure everyone enjoys a fun and safe day at the beach.

What is the name of the ferry service that connects Cape May, New Jersey, to Lewes, Delaware?

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Answer to the June 20th Trivia Question

Which natural feature of Cape May is famously known as "Cape May diamonds"?

A) Smooth quartz pebbles found on local beaches
B) Rare emerald stones found along the shore
C) Pieces of volcanic glass washed up from the ocean
D) Ancient fossils found in the sand dunes

Answer: A) Smooth quartz pebbles found on local beaches.

Cape May diamonds are actually quartz pebbles that have been smoothed and polished by the Delaware River before washing up on the beaches of Cape May. They are popular as souvenirs and are often polished to resemble real diamond.

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